Lotil - An Incredibly Affordable Moisturiser for Summer-Ready Skin

[ad/gifted] The sun is just starting to make an appearance here in England and for many of us that means we're dusting off our warm-weather wardrobes in hope of another long hot British Summer.
I've just started preparing my limbs for their 2019 debut, which is a process that involves a bit of exfoliation, a little waxing and a whole lot of moisturiser.
The moisturising bit is where *Lotil comes in.

The cream seems to have 5 star reviews across this board so of course I was keen to try it for myself!
Lotil is an intense multi-use cream that can be used to soften, re-hydrate, smooth and cleanse the skin and best of all, it's incredibly affordable at £6.29 for a generous 114ml tub.

The rich cream contains glycerin and lanolin to moisturise and protect and has a very light scent which reminds me a bit of almonds.

This is one of those products you'd keep in the bathroom cabinet for the whole family to use for a host of issues; whether that's to deliver a hit of intense moisture, soothe the skin after shaving or gently cleanse for those with exceptionally sensitive skin.

I'm currently using Lotil on my hands because they've been suffering lately and are particularly dry (having a toddler means A LOT of hand washing) and find that it absorbs well and sufficiently soothes. I also slathered it on my legs after shaving and it caused no irritation and once again absorbed beautifully. I'm going to be waxing my legs in the next few days and I'll be using the Lotil to soothe the skin afterwards and see how it fares - I have high hopes because my skin has the tendency to get pretty angry after a wax!

Lotil is available in a range of different sizes but you can find the 114ml tub at Boots.

*Gifted

Feather & Down Breathe Well

If you shop in Boots you've probably heard of Feather and Down and if you're already a fan you might be pleased to know they've just launched two new products. Just like the existing Sweet Dreams range, the new Breathe Well Pillow Spray and Breathe Well Bath Essence are designed to help encourage a restful night’s sleep.

The difference between these and the brand's already popular products? As well as Lavender and Chamomile, these contain Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Tea Tree essentials oils that are well known for their soothing and cooling properties, not to mention their ability to 'open the airways' a little.
With summer heating things up, Feather and Down have chosen the perfect time to launch the Breathe Well products. The Bath Essence creates just the right amount of pillowy bubbles and leaves the skin feeling sufficiently cooled and soothed. This is an ideal product for a pre-bed bath or shower before slipping between the sheets on a hot and humid night. I'll freely admit that I have been using the bath essence as a shower gel more often than not because I actually rarely find the time to soak away the day in a bath, but I assure you it's just as lovely when used in the shower!

The Pillow Spray is probably one of my new favourite things. I am a huge fan of room fragrances and pillow sprays with essential oils so it was almost a given I'd like this one. Like the bath essence, the spray features the classically comforting scent of lavender and chamomile spiked with refreshing eucalyptus, peppermint and tea tree. It really does make for a beautiful twist on your traditional sleep sprays and the addition of the three cooling 'breathe well' oils seem to lighten up the air when it feels a bit thick and humid.

An added bonus of these products is that I imagine they'd be a welcome addition to your bedtime ritual if you're feeling a bit sniffly and bunged up, whether that's down to catching a summer cold or suffering from hayfever. As it stands, I'm enjoying both products and so is my little family.

You can find Feather and Down Breathe Well Pillow Spray and Bath Essence at Boots in store and online where both products are very reasonably priced at £7 each.

Korean Beauty at Boots

The K Beauty craze has been steadily gaining momentum for the past few years. From features on the Ten Step Korean Beauty Routine (which I am still yet to try) popping up online and in magazines to an influx of Essences and Bubble Masks appearing in major retailers including TK Maxx and online at favourites such as Cult Beauty, we are waking up to the kitsch and kawaii world of Korean beauty buys. 

Boots is the most recent retailer to pick up on the trend, which is obviously an excellent thing for curious points card customers! 

Boots have stocked a range of Sheet Masks for a little while, so they'd already tapped into the K Beauty trend but now they've upped their game with the introduction of 3 major South Korean beauty brands.

Skinfood

Skinfood is a brand I have tried before and coincidentally, the two items I tried are from the Black Sugar range that Boots now stock. I tried both the Black Sugar Perfect Cleansing Cream and the Black Sugar Honey Mask Wash Off a couple of years ago now but back then I had to order them from Yes Style and have them shipped all the way from South Korea. If I remember correctly, I enjoyed the mask the most - it's sticky and gooey and packed full of grainy sugar and smells a bit like Coca Cola. I haven't tried the Black Sugar Perfect Essential Scrub 2X but I just might now that it's so easy to get hold of! Skinfood products at Boots start from £16 and at the moment it looks as though they are only stocking the Black Sugar range but I imagine they will expand if the range does well.

Caolion

Caolion is not a brand I know much about and I'm yet to try any of their products, but it seems to be very much focused on pores! Products include the Pore Tightening Day and Night Glowing Duo (not pictured) which features a pot of day cream and a pot of sleeping mask, the Premium Hot and Cool Pore Pack Duo which includes a 'steaming pore pack' and a tightening pack, the Pore Tightening Hot and Cool Foam Cleansing Duo which is another dual system that features a pot of 'Pore Blackhead Steam Foam Cleanser' for night and a pot of 'Pore Tightening Cooling Foam Cleanser' for morning and the Pore Blackhead O2 Sparkling Soap  which could be a good place to start with the brand as it's only £4.

Oh K

Oh K takes the cake when it comes to cuteness - their products are perfect for tweens, teens and any grown ups who enjoy a bit of kawaii in their lives. Boots stock over 30 Oh K products and you'll find everything ranging from kitsch scented brushes and panda handcreams to scented erasers and drink bottles. Personally I'm worried I'm going to buy myself the Oh K Cat Mug for absolutely no reason whatsoever.

*Images owned by Boots. 

Cheap Thrills: Boots Traditional Skin Care

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of high end products with prices to match but sometimes a gal's got to budget and strip things down to the basics.

Thanks to Christmas spending my trusty little Boots Advantage Card had accumulated a few points for me to spend so I thought I'd use them to try a couple of super thrifty products I've had my eye one.

The  Boots Traditional Skin Care range consists of products that your nan would have used in her day - traditional cleansing and moisturising creams, cold creams and a rosewater and glycerine concoction that promises to tone and soften, all at under £3.50 a pop.

I recently picked up the Traditional Skin Care Skin Cream and Glycerin and Rosewater.

The Skin Cream is an ultra rich, thick and luxurious concoction with a consistency to rival that of the much coveted Creme de la Mer.

But that's where the similarities end. Instead of ocean-derived miracle broths and meticulous fermentation processes, the Skin Care Cream boasts time tested ingredients such as lanolin and paraffin to do the trick.

At first I felt a little bit weary of these particular additives,but after a bit of research I've found that both paraffin and lanolin are ingredients in the humble E45 cream so I'm willing to give it a go!

At £2.54 this cream is not only ultra affordable, but multitasking as well - use it as a gentle and soothing cleanser or simply as a comforting, rich moisturiser.

I've found that the cream makes a great base under makeup too!

The Glycerin and Rosewater is pretty much what it says on the bottle - a skin softening combination of fragrant rosewater and moisturising glycerin that can be used as a toner or subtle moisturising treat for the face and body.

This stuff is quite heavily fragranced for a facial product and I think this is something that will make people love or hate the product. If you're a fan of roses, get yourself a bottle but if you're not keen on scented products, I suggest you steer clear!

So far I'm in two minds about toning with the Glycerin and Rosewater in the morning as it might be a tad too oily for my skin but I'm loving it as a little pre- night cream treat for an extra moisture boost.

Boots Traditional Skin Care Glycerin and Rosewater is a steal at £2.32.

Have you tried any products from the Traditional Skin Care Range at Boots? I really like these products and their slightly retro appearance!

You can find out more by clicking HERE

Thanks for reading!

Boots Botanics All Bright Skincare

In desperate need of an affordable moisturiser and exfoliator that I would actually enjoy using, I nipped into Boots on my lunch break a few days ago and triumphantly emerged moments later with a jar of Botanics All Bright Hydrating Day Cream and All Bright Purifying Face Scrub.

For me, the selling point of the Botanics range of lotions, scrubs and cleansers is the fact that they contain plant extracts  approved by the one and only Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, which is about ten minutes on the tube from where I live. This shouldn't really excite me, but it does.

Botanics All Bright Hydrating Day Cream

Aimed at normal to dry skin, this muddy- pink cream contains hydrating Hyaluronic Acid - basically another name for Restylane, (which is the stuff that people have injected into their face to smooth lines).

The cream is rich in Hibiscus flower extracts, which leave the skin smoother and brighter thanks to the gentle exfoliating properties of AHA's that occur naturally in the flower.

So far, I'm rather enjoying this hydrating cream. The consistency and colour are a definite change from the usual white hue of moisturisers and the scent is lovely and floral.

Botanics All Bright Purifying Face Scrub

There have been arguments against grainy facial scrubs, with some claiming they do more damage than good as the grains can scratch and tear the delicate facial skin. This could be true (and I do prefer fruit enzyme exfoliators such as Origin's Never a Dull Moment) but there's no denying the fresh, zingy feeling you get after a session with a good scrub!

Designed to be used 2 or 3 times a week, this scrub contains crushed walnut shell and apricot seeds that work in tandem to banish flaky bits of skin and Hibiscus, which takes care of the brightening side. The scrub also contains ultra soothing shea and cocoa butters and sweet almond oil to counteract the gritty bits.

I would compare this to St Ives Apricot Scrub - it basically feels the same, but perhaps a little more gentle and my skin feels kind of 'minty' after using it.

There are also cleansers, hair products, serums, mens products and more in the Boots Botanics range and all products are free of parabens, contain an SPF of 15 and are tested on people, not bunnies! You can have a look at the range online here

At Boots right now, they are offering 1/3 off all Botanics facial skincare so these products cost me under £6 for both :)

Have you tried anything from the Boots Botanics range??

Cheap Thrills! Boots Ingredients Coconut and Almond Intensive Hair Mask

Once again I've come across something that's both deliciously scented and affordable, this time in the form of a rich, gooey, nourishing hair mask.

The Boots Ingredients range is one that I've always overlooked for some reason, but since I squeezed out the last of my Alberto Balsam Intensive Conditioner I was on the hunt for something cheap to cheer up my dyed-within-an-inch-of-its-life hair.

Enter Boots Ingredients Coconut and Almond Intensive Hair Mask.

Long name? Yes.

Expensive? Non!

A generous 350ml tub of this glossy mask is priced at a measly £1.99 and I'm here to tell you that this stuff is  more than worth its weight in Advantage Card Points.

After shampooing my hair and squeezing out excess water, I pop a handful of this gooey goodness on the ends and massage it up to the roots.

For a serious treat, it should be left to work its magic for a few minutes, otherwise it's really lovely as an everyday conditioner that doesn't weigh my hair down.

I'm seriously happy with the results of this hair mask - once dry, my hair is smooth, incredibly soft (even the bits that were dip-dyed and bleached) and smells delicious and coconut-y.

If you've got normal/ dry hair and you've not tried this yet, hop along to your nearest Boots and grab it.

It's cheaper than a cup of coffee, and almost as satisfying ;)

Edit (02.17): unfortunately this super cheap hair mask is no longer available but you can find it's replacement here at Boots.

Thanks for reading!

Fabulously False: Real Life Petites by Broadway Nails

I have a sordid secret. My nails are terrible. They're weak, flakey and according to my mum I've been gnawing away at them since I grew teeth.

I've successfully grown them to an acceptable length only twice this year but after watching too many elimination episodes of Masterchef Australia lately (it's tense), I've successfully annihilated them yet again.

Here's wear false nails come to the rescue.

I wish I could rock really funky, longer talons but the sheer length of them frustrates me enough to rip them off in an undignified manner on public transport. Ouch.

So, to spare my fellow commuters and allow myself to undertake normal daily tasks, I opt for the shortest falsies I can find.

My latest discovery in this category is the Real Life Everyday Style Petites in Real Short length by Broadway Nails. A mouthful? Yes. A hassle? No!

This little packet contains 28 nails in 12 sizes, especially designed for little hands. Whilst by no means elegant, my hands and feet are pretty tiny and I don't like having to file down false down nails to make them a better fit for my childish nail beds, so these are perfect for me.

Each nail is fitted with a 'clean break tab' that supposedly makes application a little easier. I don't really think the tabs made a huge difference but they do snap off really cleanly so there's no need to file afterwards.

The pack comes with a little tube of pink nail glue, which isn't the best I've tried but the quality of the nails makes up for this little indiscretion.

The nails I tried are in the style of a classic squared oval french manicure, with 4 accent nails featuring a sort of silver and black swirly pattern.

These falsies really couldn't be easier to use and I had a full set applied in ten minutes flat which is a pretty mean feat for a clumsy monkey like myself.
Here's how to do it:

1. Sort through the fakies and pick out the ones that fit your fingers best (these are numbered to make life a bit easier)
2. Gently push down your cuticles using the orange stick provided (does anyone know why they're called this?!?)
3. Lightly buff nails with the softer side of the buffer provided to create more grip for the glue 
4. Apply a small amount of glue to the false nail and your natural nail
5. Press the false nail down ensuring it covers your whole natural nail but DON'T push it underneath the cuticle
6. Hold down for at least five seconds to allow the glue to adhere
7. Twist off the tab carefully
8. Sit back and look at your lovely new nails in adoration

Broadway nails are definite winners in my book and if you're on the hunt for an instant manicure to complement sunkissed skin, I strongly suggest you give these a whirl.

Retailing at £7.95, these are a little pricey but sometimes beauty is (financial) pain right?

I got these at Boots.

Have you tried Broadway Nails? Do you have any suggestions for a similar product at a littler price?

Thanks for reading :)

A Pretty Polish: 17 Lasting Fix in Pink Grapefruit

These little pots of polish by 17 have become my go-to brand when I want a new nail colour.

I usually stick to darker colours or bright reds, but I thought Pink Grapefruit would be perfect for prettying up my nails for Spring.

My nails aren't worthy of photographing at the moment, so I borrowed my friend India's lovely hands to model the polish for this post :)

In the pictures, India only has one coat on her nails, and as you can see it leaves quite a sheer finish.
For a more opaque result, two or three coats are definitely needed.

The polish applies really smoothly, is glossy and fairly chip resistant.
As for the 'lasting fix' claims, I think it comes through on the promise pretty well and looks fairly flawless for a good few days.

The formula is a little on the watery side, which I quite like because it generally means less drying time.
Besides the bright, flirty colour, the selling point for me is how easily applied this polish is: It's not gloopy at all and the brush fans out to just the right size. Result :)

17 Lasting Fix Nail Polish is available at Boots in a variety of colours for £2.99.

Have you tried polishes from 17?
What do you think of Pink Grapefruit?

Thanks for reading :*

Cheap Thrills: alberto balsam intensive conditioning treatment

So my hair has been looking a bit frizzy lately, especially at the front where I had it bleached within an inch of its life after Christmas. Observe:

I got over the blonde bits pretty quickly, so figured I'd just whack some BLACK DYE over the bleach, and everything would return to normal, right? Wrong!

Firstly, the dye simply won't stick to the bleached bits and 'permanent' colours rinse out to a light/ medium brown colour after a couple of washes, so I now have black hair with brown bits at the front :/

Secondly, the parts at the front are a bit fried and frizzy and the strands literally break in my hands when I'm washing it. :0

What to do? I needed an intensive conditioner, and I needed it fast.

I would love to have waltzed into a salon and indulged in a half hour treatment while munching on complimentary biscuits and flicking through Elle, but my budget simply won't allow such privileges, so I told myself that I will have to find the solution at Boots, using only the points on my Boots Card.

Problem? I had only £2.23 on my rewards card.

Solution? Alberto Balsam intensive conditioning treatment for £1.07.

I have been known to be a bit of a hair care snob, and usually make a bee line for the pricey (but travel sized) salon brands, so I haven't used anything by Alberto Balsam for a while, but I really couldn't be happier with this product.

Containing extracts of almond & honey, this treatment is rich, thick and nourishing and claims to repair damage (which is what I need), smooth the hair cuticle and restore softness, manageability and shine.

It's super easy to use - just squeeze out a generous helping, and put it on your hair, concentrating on the nasty bits. Leave for a few minutes, then rinse.

The consistency is thick and luxurious

I used this last night, and I can honestly report that my hair feels considerably softer and silkier, though I think my bleached parts are beyond help and I'm going to have to wait that one out!

All in all, this treatment is lovely and an absolute bargain. The best aspect of it, in my humble opinion is the scent - it smells just like honey and almonds (funny that).

I would definitely buy this again.

Have you tried this treatment, or something similar?


Thank you for reading :)


Hannah Rose xxx

Tousle Me Softly

The marketing team at Herbal Essences deserve a gold star, because the advertisement for the new Tousle Me Softly range had me at hello.

Conveniently, I ran out of shampoo & conditioner a few days ago, so I was left with no other option than to pop in to Boots and spend my hard earned card points so I could test drive this new range.

To be honest, I'm not usually a huge Herbal Essences fan (I'm a bit of a Mark Hill/ Umberto Giannini junkie), but I was intrigued by the 'violet' components of Tousle Me Softly.

The Shampoo & Conditioner are currently 1/2 price at Boots! :o

The Shampoo and Conditioner combine pomegranate and wild violet to refresh and moisturise tresses and promise to produce that sought after just-had-a-roll-in-the-hay effortlessness.

So does it come through with the goods?

First off, I love the smell. It's fairly strong with a pleasant and floral scent that I kept smelling throughout the day when I swished my hair about.
The shampoo feels clarifying, yet gentle and the conditioner left my hair almost impossibly soft.

Having a tousle! *sorry, rubbish camera today*

But what about the 'tousle' effect? Did I feel like wearing garish purple eyeliner and fronting a rock band while swinging my hair around in slow motion? Not quite. But my hair did feel baby soft and light and messy in a pretty way. It looks super shiny and healthy too :)

My verdict? All in all, a 'totally organic experience'. That was the old tagline wasn't it?

Have you tried anything from the Tousle Me Softly range? I'd love to hear your opinions.


Thanks for reading! :*


Hannah Rose xxx

See it, Want it...Can I Have It???

I saw this in Selfridges on Oxford St last week and I'm still thinking about it. Could this be love?

Introducing St Tropez Skin Illuminator in Rose. This product works the same as the best selling skin illuminator in Violet, but is best suited to skins with blue or pink undertones. St Tropez illuminators were a backstage staple at London Fashion Week last year and they're also used by the X Factor MUA's, so that's a pretty good indication that this is a worthy product.
When applied to the cheekbones it creates a gorgeous flush, and is a lot more subtle than the violet and gold shades. Very user friendly! I haven't purchased this one yet and only managed to swatch it in store so apologies for the lack of photos :o
St Tropez Skin Illuminator is available at department stores (such as Selfridges) and Boots for £12 for 50ml.

P.S. I know this has been around a little while but I just wanted to give it a shout out!


Hannah Rose xxx

To B.B or not to B.B....

...That is the question on everyone's lips (or faces) at the moment.
As you've probably seen on TV/ read in magazines, B.B creams or 'Blemish Balms' are being touted as Britain's next big thing.
Having already conquered the far east with the promise of convenience and multifunctionality, B.B cream has finally arrived on our shores and good old Garnier are the first to jump on the bandwagon.
The Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector Daily All In One B.B cream claims to get to work on your skin in 6 different ways - even tone, boost glow, blur imperfections, smooth fine lines, hydrate for 24 hrs and protect with SPF 15.

Garnier B.B Cream comes in a 50ml tube and retails for £9.99

As a complete sucker for a new beauty fad, I rushed to boots when this little revolution hit the shelves, further enticed by the fact that this £9.99 cream was part of a three for two deal!
I picked up the Medium shade, got home, washed all my makeup off and promptly slathered my face in the stuff. (Not really, I more dotted and blended).
In inspecting my new improved reflection in the mirror, I was a little frightened to be confronted with what can only be described as an oompa loompa version of myself. This isn't entirely true either, but I did look somewhat similar to a terracotta plant pot.  Now, I'm not really sure if this is a fault with the product, or my bad judgement in just how alabaster my face has become. My beloved Australian tan has well and truly left the building, so I should probably have accepted this and picked up the light shade.

The texture of the BB cream is very similar to that of most tinted moisturisers or light foundations. It comes out of the tube quite thick and a little does go a long way. Because I wasn't too impressed with the colouring of the product (once again, probably my fault), I've started using it very sparingly and I must say that it is quite nice, but I'm not going nuts over it.
It feels very light, and does make the skin look a little more even - like a 'no make up' look, but I'm not quite sure what sets it apart from a tinted moisturiser
As for the scent, it's got that trademark fruity smell that garnier are known for, so I sort of subliminally felt like I was putting shampoo on my face. I'm not very keen on fruity scents in products, but if you are, this would be right up your alley.

My first ever swatch!..And a close up of my veiny wrist

Garnier's not the only brand that's been bitten by the B.B bug with everyone from MAC to Maybelline launching their own versions of Blemish Balm. You can already pick up Dior's version at Harrods for £36.50, while Mac, Clinique and Estee Lauder's B.B creams are currently only available at Harrods.

I don't really like ditching foundation when I'm out and about, but I have put this on followed by a dusting of pressed powder (I use Dior Diorskin Forever Compact) when I was running late for work. Wearing it without powder, I seem to end up with a slight oil slick on my T Zone and found my glasses sliding further and further down my nose. I'm thinking people with dry skin will appreciate this product because it is quite soothing and my skin does get pretty darn dry in the colder months over here, so I might grow to love it now that the mercury's dropping!

For now though, the Garnier B.B cream shall stay in my handbag for beauty emergencies alongside my back up mascara and spare knickers :)